In a significant development, the Allahabad High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea filed by the Shahi Idgah mosque committee challenging the maintainability of 18 suits related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura. This decision paves the way for the trial to proceed in these cases.
Hindu litigants have filed multiple suits seeking the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque, claiming it was built on the site of the demolished Krishna Janmabhoomi temple during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
However, the mosque management committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board had argued that the suits were barred under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits altering the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on Independence Day.
Justice Mayank Kumar Jain, who had reserved his judgment on the matter on June 6, ruled in favor of the litigants’ side, allowing the trial to proceed. The court has scheduled August 12 as the date for framing of issues in the case.
This decision is likely to have far-reaching implications for the ongoing dispute and is expected to be closely watched by both Hindu and Muslim communities.